Alexander Technique: Language
We begin our Alexander Technique workshop for piano teachers by trying to eliminate several words from our vocabulary for the duration of the class. That may sound a bit negative, but it’s actually a powerful practice that can lead to some interesting discoveries.
When we decide not to use a word, we’re forced to search for a different one. In that act of searching, we can start an Alexander Technique practice. Language is very important in Alexander Technique, because how we think is how we move. Whether we’re thinking to ourselves or talking to a student, the vocabulary we use has a significant impact.
At the start of our class, we usually eliminate words like “posture”, “alignment”, and “position”--vocabulary that implies something static. We do this because Alexander Technique is about how we move, rather than some elusive position that we hope to find and try to maintain.
Instead of using words that express a stationary way of being, we might choose words like “use” or “movement”. We might say “the way that you’re using your torso”, rather than “make sure you have good posture”. One suggests flexibility and movement, while the other suggests rigidity.
Whether or not you’re planning to study Alexander Technique (although I really hope you do!), you could start with this simple practice of searching for language that indicates movement rather than position. It will lead to subtle changes in your thinking, and positive changes in the way you and your students move at the piano.